The Kids West Story

Kids West has evolved as a charity over the past 22 years as it has carried out its primary purpose of raising funds for the Children’s hospitals of Sydney. From that initial meeting at Westmead Hospital in July 1991 where representatives from the broader Community including NSW Ambulance. Police and Fire brigade, McDonalds, NSW Health Staff, local Clubs and Community services, to 2013, we have seen in excess of $4.6m raised and countless hours given to assist a large number of organizations improving the Health and Wellbeing of Children throughout Western Sydney.

I recall the very passionate Professor Ruben Dubois who was head of Paediatrics at Westmead Hospital saying, â€œwe are desperate for funds and our Kids are missing outâ€. Well as a result of Rubenâ€™s passion and the motivation of many, a new no frills Charity was born, a Charity that really was different in that it was driven by the Community for the Community. A Charity that had access to where funds were needed most and how to ensure that funds raised resulted in direct help.

From a very small beginning, fundraising through fetes, raffles and small Community events, in the first 5 years we managed to fund specialized wheelchairs, monitors to enable a child to spend more time at home and less time in Hospital, support local school education through our Accident and Awareness program and a small amount of work assisting other charitable groups like the Lions Club, Variety and Ronald McDonald House.

It was 1997 that saw Kids West’s introduction to Cash Housie (club bingo) and with the assistance of local Clubs we started to raise significant funds, placing us in a much stronger position to support equipment and programs in more local Hospitals.

Over recent years we have not only supported Paediatric Intensive Care Wards donating more than $2.8m throughout Western Sydney, but also supported breakfast programs for disadvantaged children, the Millennium Foundation, an intellectually handicapped childrenâ€™s soccer team, numerous specialized pieces of Equipment for Westmead and the Childrenâ€™s Hospital and Hospital equipment in Country areas such as Coolah Hospital. Our support has even reached places such as Condobolin assisting families in times of drought.

Proudly in 2003 Kids West through itâ€™s financial support were instrumental in launching the Shaken Baby Project (now referred to â€œHow to Cope with a Crying Babyâ€) this unique educational program helps parents better understand the dangers of shaking a baby and some of the methods used to calm a crying baby. This wonderful program is believed to have reduced the incidents of death or serious injury, is available in 6 different languages and has now been provided to 7 counties throughout the world. We at Kids West through our continued support are now striving to have this educational material available to the parents of every newborn throughout NSW and then Australia.

Kids West strives to bridge the gaps and provide support where it is most needed. In these times raising funds from the Community and the Corporate sector is challenging, however with your support Kids West will continue to provide a unique service to the Community, providing much needed equipment and programs for sick or disadvantaged Children and help saves lives.